Healthy Aging Print Sex After Age 70 Is Increasing By Mark Stibich, PhD twitter linkedin Mark Stibich, PhD, FIDSA, is a behavior change expert with experience helping individuals make lasting lifestyle improvements. Learn about our editorial process Mark Stibich, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Jenny Sweigard, MD on January 15, 2020 linkedin Jenny Sweigard, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine. She is an in-patient physician at Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center in North Carolina. Learn about our Medical Review Board Jenny Sweigard, MD Updated on February 09, 2020 Mark Bowden / Vetta / Getty Images More in Prevention & Treatment Healthy Aging Vaccines First Aid Occupational Therapy Holistic Health Surgery Is sex for older adults just as common, and just as satisfying, as it is for younger adults? In the past, not much research in this area existed. People assumed that, as people got older, sex became a thing of the past. Now, we know that people aged 70 and beyond are reporting having active, fulfilling sex lives. Research on Sex After Age 70 Since 1970, researchers in Sweden have been surveying people over the age of 70 about their sex lives. One very interesting thing about the Swedish study is that we can compare this data from the 1970s to data we have today. In 1971, only 52 percent of married men aged 70 and up reported that they were still sexually active. In more recent research, that figure increased to 68 percent. Similarly, just 38 percent of married women over the age of 70 reported being sexually active in 1971, compared to 56 percent quoted in more recent research. For unmarried older adults, there has been a similar increase in reported instances of sexual activity. 30 percent of single men and less than 1 percent of single women reported being sexually active in the context of that 1971 study. Now, 30 percent of single men and 12 percent of single women report that they are still having sex. How Much Sex Are They Really Having? Older adults are having more sex than you might think. Of all the sexually active older adults, 25 percent report having sex at least once a week (compared with 10 percent in the 1970s). Not only that, but at least half of the men and women said their relationships were “very happy.” Which Older Adults Are More Likely to Be Sexually Active? A further review of the data found these factors were most associated with being sexually active at age 70: Positive attitude toward sexualityBeing married or cohabitatingHaving a very happy relationshipHaving a partner who was physically and mentally healthyGood physical and mental healthGetting good sleepDrinking alcohol more than three times per week At age 70, the study found people were less likely to be still sexually active if their partner was older or if they had diabetes, coronary heart disease, or depression. Why Might Older Adults Be Having More Sex? People are living longer and are healthier. The average 70-year-old today is healthier than the average 70-year-old in 1970 and has a longer life expectancy.Sexual dysfunctions are readily treated. Men have access to a number of medications (like Viagra) to treat erectile dysfunction.The culture has changed. The expectations of older adults are different from what they were in the 1970s. A Word From Verywell You have a better chance than ever to enjoy sex long into your older years. Sex doesn't end at age 70, and the majority of those who reach that age in good health and in a relationship continue to have sex. Attitudes towards sex have changed over the past decades, and more people are entering older age expecting to continue to enjoy sex. What Can You Expect From Your Sex Life as You Age? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Delamater J. Sexual expression in later life: a review and synthesis. J Sex Res. 2012;49(2-3):125-41. doi:10.1080/00224499.2011.603168 Beckman N, Waern M, Gustafson D, Skoog I. Secular trends in self reported sexual activity and satisfaction in Swedish 70 year olds: cross sectional survey of four populations, 1971-2001. Bmj. 2008;337(jul08 3). doi:10.1136/bmj.a279 Beckman N, Waern M, Östling S, Sundh V, Skoog I. Determinants of Sexual Activity in Four Birth Cohorts of Swedish 70‐year‐olds Examined 1971–2001. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2014;11(2):401-410. doi:10.1111/jsm.12381 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. QuickStats: Life Expectancy at Birth, by Year --- United States, 1970--2003. Published April 14, 2005.